Compact Drain Assembly for Sinks and the Like

ABSTRACT

A compact drain assembly for sinks and the like, comprising at least one drain duct which can be coupled hermetically at a drain hole which is provided at least at the lateral surface of a sink and has at least one portion which is at the same level as, or lower than, the bottom of the sink. An element for closing the drain is further provided which affects the drain duct.

The present invention relates to a compact drain assembly for sinks andthe like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is known, sinks and the like have a drain assembly which is generallyprovided by means of a drain pipe or the like which is connected to ahole provided at the bottom of each bowl of the sink and the like.

The overflow safety drain duct must then be connected to the drain pipeand requires the provision on the sink of an additional hole, which isgenerally provided a few centimeters from the upper rim of the sink.

With this embodiment, therefore, it is necessary to use under the bottomof the sink an underlying space which is usually larger than 120 mm.

Moreover, the placement of the overflow requires providing a hole in thebowl for inserting the drain inlet, setting a maximum level in the bowlwhich is not variable in any manner.

Another drawback further consists in that it is necessary to provideseveral elements, which cause difficulties during installation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the invention is to eliminate the drawbacks mentioned aboveby providing a compact drain assembly for sinks and the like whichallows to reduce drastically the space required for the drain under thesink, thus contributing to a better utilization and optimization of thespaces in the household environment.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is further to achieve theoverflow function without having to provide additional holes in the bowlexcept for the drain hole.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a drain assemblywhich, thanks to its particular constructive characteristics, is capableof giving the greatest assurances of reliability and safety in use.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a compactdrain assembly for sinks and the like which can be obtained easilystarting from commonly commercially available elements and materials andis also competitive from a merely economical standpoint.

This aim and these and other objects, which will become better apparenthereinafter, are achieved by a compact drain assembly for sinks and thelike, according to the invention, characterized in that it comprises atleast one drain duct which can be coupled hermetically at a drain holewhich is defined at least at the lateral surface of a sink and has atleast one portion which is at the same level as, or lower than, thebottom of said sink, an element for closing the drain being furtherprovided which affects said at least one drain duct.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention willbecome better apparent from the description of a preferred but notexclusive embodiment of a compact drain assembly for sinks and the like,illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the drain assembly accordingto the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the drain assembly, taken at the drainhole;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the drain assembly, taken downstream ofthe closure element, in the direction of water outflow;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the drain assembly applied to asingle-bowl sink;

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the actuation means of theclosure element;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a detail of the partition wall forcontrolling the overflow level;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the means for positioning the partitionwall for controlling the overflow level.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the figures, the compact drain assembly for sinks andthe like, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises abowl element 2, which can be applied hermetically to a sink and thelike, generally designated by the reference numeral 3, preferably at theregion between the two bowls 4 of a sink or, in the case of asingle-bowl sink, on the side of a bowl 4.

The bowl element 2 is provided with a sealing gasket 10, which acts onthe outer surface of the sink 3 so as to optimize the hermetic coupling.

The sink 3 is connected to a drain duct 11, which is provided so that ithas a drain duct 11 for each bowl 4.

In the case of two bowls, as shown schematically in FIG. 1, there aretwo ducts 11, which are mutually separated by a partition wall 13 whichsubstantially divides the region arranged between the two bowls.

A peculiar feature of the invention consists in that each drain duct 11is connected to a respective bowl 4 by means of a drain hole 20, whichis arranged laterally in order to affect the lateral surface of the sinkand also a portion which is flush with the bottom of the sink, so as toallow complete discharge of the water, allowed by the fact that thebottom of the sink is provided so that it slopes toward the drain hole.

The drain hole 20 is closed by a grille 21, which acts only as a barrierbut does not provide a seal and is provided with a grip pin 22, whichcan be accommodated in a spoked element 23 so as to retain the grille 21in position.

A drain closure element is provided at each drain duct 11 and inpractice replaces the conventional closure plug of the bowl, which inthe specific case is closed by means of a flow control element which canbe of any type and advantageously can be actuated remotely.

In the specific example, which illustrates one of the possibleembodiments, there is a flow control element with a flap 30 whichrotates about its own axis and has a pivot 31 which protrudes radiallyfrom the flap-like flow control element 30 and is connected to a gear32, which meshes for example with a rack 33 which can slide by way ofthe action of a cable 34 which can be actuated from a control knob 35which can be arranged above the sink.

In this manner, by turning the flap-like flow control element 30, thedrain duct is opened and closed, controlling the outflow of the liquidfrom the bowl.

With the described arrangement it is therefore possible to reducedrastically the space occupation below the sink, since it is notnecessary to provide a connection to the drain pipe, but the drain ductlies substantially horizontally at a level which is slightly lower thanthe bottom of the sink, so that the space below the bowl is leftcompletely free.

Moreover the solution used allows to provide an overflow which can beobtained without having to produce another hole in the bowl.

In the specific case, the overflow function is achieved by means of achamber 40 which is provided laterally with respect to the bowl and isdelimited by a level control partition 41, which can slide so as to varyits useful height, which determines the level of overflow of the water,said overflow occurring downstream of the flow control element 30, withreference to the direction of outflow of the water.

The level partitions 41 can be adjusted in height so that each user canfreely define the overflow level simply by varying the height of thepartition 41, which can slide in hermetic guides 42 provided in thedividing wall 13 or in any case laterally adjacent to the sink, so as todefine an overflow region, beyond which the water passes directly to thedrain.

In order to position the level control partition it is possible to usedifferent actuation means; according to a possible embodiment, whichmust not be construed as limiting, it is possible to provide a linearset of teeth 60 on the partition 41, such set being engaged by anactuation gear 61 arranged on a shaft 62 provided with a pinion 63 whichmeshes with a hook-like detent system 64 actuated by a cable 65, whichcan be operated by means of a level knob 66 which can be accessed abovethe sink.

The rotation of the gear 61 changes the vertical position of thepartitions and consequently changes the overflow level according to therequirements of the user.

From what has been described above it is therefore evident that theinvention achieves the intended aim and objects, and in particular thefact is stressed that a drain assembly for sinks and the like isprovided which allows first of all to reduce drastically the spaceoccupation under the sink and further allows to obtain the overflowsafety level without having to resort to the additional traditionalprovision of a hole in the bowl of the sink.

Another important aspect further consists in that it is possible toadjust the overflow level at will.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modificationsand variations, all of which are within the scope of the appendedclaims.

All the details may further be replaced with other technicallyequivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes anddimensions, may be any according to requirements.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. MI2006A000527 fromwhich this application claims priority are incorporated herein byreference.

1-12. (canceled)
 13. A compact drain assembly for sinks and the like,comprising at least one drain duct which can be coupled hermetically ata drain hole which is defined at least at the lateral surface of a sinkand has at least one portion which is at the same level as, or lowerthan, the bottom of said sink, a closure element for closing said drainduct being further provided which affects said at least one drain duct.14. A drain assembly for sinks and the like, comprising at least onedrain duct which can be coupled hermetically at a drain hole provided insaid sink, an element for closing the drain being further provided whichaffects said at least one drain duct, a safety overflow being providedwhich is arranged downstream of said drain closure element.
 15. Thedrain assembly according to claim 13, further comprising a bowl elementwhich can be applied hermetically at a lateral portion of at least onebowl of said sink.
 16. The drain assembly according to claim 15, furthercomprising, on said bowl element, in case of a two-bowl sink, two drainducts which are separated by a dividing wall arranged in the regionlocated between the two bowls of a sink.
 17. The drain assemblyaccording to claim 13, further comprising a grille which is arranged atsaid drain hole and only acts as a barrier.
 18. The drain assemblyaccording to claim 13, wherein said closure element comprises a flowcontrol element with a flap which can rotate about its own axis and isarranged so as to control the respective drain duct.
 19. The drainassembly according to claim 18, wherein said flap-like flow controlelement comprises a radially protruding pin, which is connected to agear which meshes with a rack which can slide due to the action of acable which can be actuated by a control knob which can be located onsaid sink.
 20. The drain assembly according to claim 14, wherein saidsafety overflow has an height-adjustable level.
 21. The drain assemblyaccording to claim 20, wherein said safety overflow is defined in achamber which is positioned laterally with respect to said bowl and isprovided with a level control partition which can move in order to varythe useful height which determines the water overflow level.
 22. Thedrain assembly according to claim 21, wherein said level controlpartition can slide hermetically within guides defined at the dividingwall between the two bowls of a sink.
 23. The drain assembly accordingto claim 22, comprising actuation means for positioning said levelcontrol partition.
 24. The drain assembly according to claim 23, whereinsaid actuation means for positioning the level control partitioncomprise a linear set of teeth, which is provided on said partition andis engaged by an actuation gear, which is arranged on a shaft which isassociated with a pinion which is connected to a detent system which canbe actuated by means of a cable connected to a knob.